Following last year’s shock funding cuts for cultural exchange programs, the USD $667m FY26 allocation proposed by the House Appropriations Committee marks an important step in securing stable and reliable funding streams for study abroad programs, experts have said.
“After recent uncertainty, this is good news and feels like a meaningful signal from Congress.”
“Not just about funding, but about recognising the value of exchange programs and giving the field more predictability to plan around,” said Christian Sandberg, international education advisor.
While the USD $667m allocation falls below the FY24 enacted level of USD $741m and the USD $700.95m included in last summer’s House Bill, stakeholders said it represented a strong commitment to sustaining exchange programs.
What’s more, they welcomed the Bill’s inclusion of strengthened oversight language, setting clearer expectations for how funds are allocated and how changes are handled.
“Congress appropriates funding and the executive branch is responsible for executing it, and this language raises the bar for holding or repurposing exchange funding without involving Congress,” explained Sandberg.
In my mind, this is a direct response to the withholding of awards that we saw in 2025
Mark Overmann, Alliance for International Exchange
Last summer, the sector was rocked by the administration’s sudden cancellation of USD $100m worth of grants for educational and cultural exchange – money which had already been approved by Congress.
This time, the apportionment language in the FY26 bill is completely new, requiring funding to be apportioned for ECA exchange programs within 60 days of the Bill’s passage, said Mark Overmann, executive director of the Alliance for International Exchange.
“In my mind, this is a direct response to the withholding of awards that we saw in 2025,” Overmann added.
Unlike in previous years, the International Visitor Leadership Program (IVLP), the Gilman Scholarship, and the Young Leaders Initiatives are explicitly mentioned alongside Fulbright in the Bill.
Their inclusion, Overmann said, signalled the high value Congress places on ensuring the programs receive their funds in FY26.
Given the USD $667m allocation and the bill’s increased oversight of ECA and its programs, stakeholders hope the legislation will translate into greater sector stability – crucial for exchange programs which operate on long planning cycles and rely on predictable funding cycles.
Notably, Sandberg highlighted the package was negotiated on a bipartisan basis across the House of Representatives and the Senate, signalling “a meaningful signal of broad support for exchange programs”.
Looking forward, the Bill is on track to be voted on in the Senate, though the timing remains unclear. If it passes, it will ensure funding for the Department of State and ECA programs until September 30, 2026.
